Ride free on old buses in service on London bus route 38 between Victoria and Hackney ~ 16th September 2023!
Buses are the lifeblood of London; about half of all bus journeys in the UK are made in London. The affection that Londoners feel for their buses is apparent whenever they have a chance to ride on a Routemaster or something older.
Bus route 38 has been running since 1912 – that’s 111 years – serving Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, the Ritz, Piccadilly Circus, Theatreland, Chinatown, the British Museum, Grays Inn, Sadler’s Wells, Angel Islington, Essex Road, Balls Pond Road, Dalston Junction, Hackney Central and Clapton Pond.
On 16th September between 1000 and 1700 in conjunction with Heritage Open Days the London Bus Museum will be running heritage buses dating from the 1950s to 1970s alongside the normal daily service on route 38, Victoria to Hackney.
Open-platform buses with real conductors will run about every 10 minutes between Victoria and Hackney Station; some buses will continue from Hackney to Clapton Pond. Buses serve all route 38 bus stops - including Victoria Bus Station, Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road, New Oxford Street, Bloomsbury Square, Rosebery Avenue, Islington Green, Balls Pond Road, Dalston Lane, Graham Road, Hackney Central Station, Hackney Baths, Clapton Pond.
Buses being used will mostly be the iconic Routemaster, dating from the late 1950s and 1960s, and their predecessor the RT-type, which in the 1950s formed the largest standardised bus fleet in the world.
No need to book, just turn up at a bus stop and put out your hand!
Page updated 13th May 2023
- Route 38 photographs taken through the years
- Bus owners wishing to participate should contact us here.
- Check back regularly for updates.
Photo Gallery
Hover on photo for caption
![Classic ! Roofbox RT4813 on Victoria Station forecourt ~ August 1964 [Chris Stanley]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/05/4813a/3095446212.jpg "Classic ! Roofbox RT4813 on Victoria Station forecourt ~ August 1964 [Chris Stanley]")
![RML897 ~ Clapton Pond ~ 18 Jul 2005 [Peter Osborn]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/05/38_RML897_ClaptonPond_18Jul2005_PAO/75827069.jpg "RML897 ~ Clapton Pond ~ 18 Jul 2005 [Peter Osborn]")
![RMLs 2571, 2528 at Islington ~ 27 October 2005 [Peter Osborn]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/05/RMs-on-38/1344523707.jpg "RMLs 2571, 2528 at Islington ~ 27 October 2005 [Peter Osborn]")
![Those about to die, we salute you ~ last day of crew operation [Peter Osborn]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/05/Those-about-to-die-we-salute-you-c-scaled/22985717.jpg "Those about to die, we salute you ~ last day of crew operation [Peter Osborn]")
![First day of the new order - Citaro MA97 (BX55 FUU) ~ Clapton Pond ~ 29 October 2005 [Peter Osborn]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/05/The-new-order-291005a/560187588.jpg "First day of the new order - Citaro MA97 (BX55 FUU) ~ Clapton Pond ~ 29 October 2005 [Peter Osborn]")
![Arriva London VDL DB300 / Wright Gemini DW308 (LJ09 SVC) ~ New Oxford Street ~ 13th June 2013 [David Harman]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/04/Rte38-VDL-DB300/3734993369.jpg "Arriva London VDL DB300 / Wright Gemini DW308 (LJ09 SVC) ~ New Oxford Street ~ 13th June 2013 [David Harman]")
![Arriva NBfL LT6 (LT12 FHT) ~ New Oxford Street ~ 20 June 2013 [David Harman]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/05/Arriva-LT6/1893525201.jpg "Arriva NBfL LT6 (LT12 FHT) ~ New Oxford Street ~ 20 June 2013 [David Harman]")
![Arriva London Wrightbus NBfL LT4 (LT12 DHT) ~ Victoria Bus Station ~ 22 June 2013 [David Harman]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/04/Rte-38-NBfL-2/2647017705.jpg "Arriva London Wrightbus NBfL LT4 (LT12 DHT) ~ Victoria Bus Station ~ 22 June 2013 [David Harman]")
![Arriva London Wrightbus NBfL LT844 (LTZ 1844) ~ Amherst Road, Hackney ~ 27 August 2022 [David Harman]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/04/Rte-NBfL-LT844/324353811.jpg "Arriva London Wrightbus NBfL LT844 (LTZ 1844) ~ Amherst Road, Hackney ~ 27 August 2022 [David Harman]")
![Arriva London Wrightbus NBfL LT2 (LTZ 1002) in the green livery in which it was used on trial by First Bus in West Yorkshire ~ Grosvenor Gardens ~ 25 October 2019 [David Harman]](https://www.londonbusmuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2023/04/Rte38-LT2/529111739.jpg "Arriva London Wrightbus NBfL LT2 (LTZ 1002) in the green livery in which it was used on trial by First Bus in West Yorkshire ~ Grosvenor Gardens ~ 25 October 2019 [David Harman]")